PUR – Puerto Ricans in fine fettle overseas
SAN JUAN (FBPR) - Puerto Rico’s beloved basketball players didn’t earn a trip to the Beijing Games after falling to Germany in an all-or-nothing clash at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The team did take something from the summer, however, by winning the Centrobasket. The national side’s players are now with their teams. ...
SAN JUAN (FBPR) - Puerto Rico’s beloved basketball players didn’t earn a trip to the Beijing Games after falling to Germany in an all-or-nothing clash at the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
The team did take something from the summer, however, by winning the Centrobasket.
The national side’s players are now with their teams.
Jose Barea is preparing for the new campaign with the Dallas Mavericks and will be coached this year by new boss Rick Carlisle while Carlos Arroyo has left the NBA for Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Others based in Europe and South America are off to good starts.
In Italy’s Lega A, Guillermo Diaz poured in 26 points and pulled down eight rebounds but his side, newly-promoted Eldo Caserta, fell 83-81 at Lottomatica Roma.
Javier Mohica, who had a dramatic game off the bench with nine points and seven rebounds in Puerto Rico’s win over Slovenia in Athens, is in Poland.
He scored 20 points and pulled down six rebounds in AZS Koszalin´s 73-61 upset win over Kotwica.
Big center Peter John Ramos had eight points and nine rebounds and also swatted three shots to help his team in the powerful Spanish ACB, Alta Gestion Fuenlabrada, defeat Gran Canaria 86-75.
Veteran center Daniel Santiago has left Unicaja Malaga for Barcelona and he contributed six points, four rebounds and also blocked a shot in their 74-58 win over Pamesa Valencia.
Lightning-quick, smooth ball-handling point guard Filiberto Rivera is in Germany and he had nine points and two assists but committed five turnovers for Brose Basket Bamberg.
His team still prevailed 84-77 over Paderborn Basket.
Andres Rodriguez scored nine points, hauled in five rebounds and dished out five assists but his Ukraine outfit BC Donetsk suffered a 76-69 defeat to Azovmash.
In Uruguay, Angelo Reyes had an amazing 38-point and 21-rebound performance in Hebraica Macabi´s 90-84 triumph over Cordon.
Reyes is the second best scorer and rebounder in the Uruguay top flight, averaging 23.3 points and 13.5 rebounds per game.
FIBA